Wilbert D. Pearson Jr.
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service1970 - 2005
Rank Major General
Commands held

Wilbert "Doug" Pearson Jr. is a retired major general and test pilot in the United States Air Force.[1] On September 13, 1985, he conducted the test launch of an ASM-135 ASAT missile that destroyed the Solwind satellite.[2] He later served as the director of operations for Air Force Materiel Command and as the commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center. Pearson retired from active duty on January 1, 2005.[1]

Personal life

Doug and Todd Pearson in front of the F-15 for a commemorative flight

Pearson's son, Todd, was the commander of the 493rd Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath.[3][4] In 2007, Todd flew the F-15 Eagle that was used for the ASM-135 test launch in a commemorative flight.[2]

Dates of promotion

Insignia Rank Date
Major general July 1, 2001
Brigadier general April 1, 1997
Colonel Nov. 1, 1991
Lieutenant colonel Feb. 1, 1986
Major Nov. 1, 1981
Captain June 10, 1974
First lieutenant March 10, 1972
Second lieutenant Sept. 10, 1970

[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Major General Wilbert D. 'Doug' Pearson Jr". Biographies. US Air Force. January 2005. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Glenshaw, Paul (April 2018). "The First Space Ace". Air & Space Magazine. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  3. ^ Alvarez, Kyle (June 15, 2021). "Missing man formation over RAF Lakenheath remembers pilot who died in F-15 crash". Stars and Stripes. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  4. ^ Hunter, Jamie (27 April 2022). "Father Flew First F-15 Eagles Into Europe, Son Just Flew Them Out". The Drive. Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
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